1851

<p>“Athletics and education have always gone hand in hand for me,” says Kristen Maines, a former NCAA Division I tennis player and University of Buffalo athletics coach who is now one of <a href="https://sylvanfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-kristen-maines-sylvan-learning-new-york-2714648" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>Sylvan Learning</u></a>’s newest franchisees.</p><p>Maines was looking for an opportunity to combine her love for coaching with her desire to own a business when she became aware of a local <a href="https://1851franchise.com/sylvanlearning"><u>Sylvan Learning</u></a> Center that was up for sale. Right away, she said, she knew it was the perfect opportunity.</p><p>We talked to Maines to learn more about her journey to becoming a Sylvan franchisee.</p><h4>1851 Franchise: What did you do before franchising?</h4><p>Kristen Maines: I was born and raised in Amherst. I attended the University of Buffalo for my master’s in higher education. I have been in college athletics my entire career, and I have a lot of experience on the athletics side of education. I was also the head pro at our local tennis country club. Athletics and education have always gone hand in hand for me.</p><h4>1851: How did you initially find out about franchising?&nbsp;</h4><p>Maines: Franchising wasn’t really on our radar; we were looking at other businesses to purchase. The support on the backend was what was appealing to us. We can still have that business drive. We liked the potential for growth. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.</p><h4>1851: Why did you pick Sylvan Learning? What excited you most about the potential?</h4><p>Maines: My husband and I had been looking for something for a while, and the center had been for sale. Given our current economic climate and my experience in education, Sylvan Learning really stood out to me. After seeing how much they do for their franchisees, I was sold.</p><h4>1851: What value do you see your business providing to Amherst?</h4><p>Maines: There are huge school districts along with private and charter schools within the territory that I purchased. Given that the territory I purchased is so large, we want to explore satellite locations and maybe another brick-and-mortar location.</p><p>We have a new center director who is starting with me. We are both people-oriented and customer service-oriented. The previous owner wasn’t local, so now we are local people taking over, which will be great for the community.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h4>ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING, LLC</h4><p>With more than 40 years of experience and more than 750 points of presence throughout North America, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE—STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep —college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey. For more information, visit <a href="www.SylvanLearning.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>www.SylvanLearning.com</u></a> or <a href="http://sylvanlearning.com/blog.?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=the-great-franchisee-kristen-maines-sylvan-learning-new-york-2714648" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><u>SylvanLearning.com/blog.</u></a></p>

The Great Franchisee: Kristen Maines, Sylvan Learning, New York

1851 Franchise

The former tennis pro and University of Buffalo athletics coach is leveraging her love of mentorship to open a new Sylvan location in Amherst, New York.

the-great-franchisee-kristen-maines-sylvan-learning-new-york

DRYmedic Restoration

image of drymedic restoration franchise brand

Why DRYmedic Restoration Is the Franchise Built for the Climate Era — And Why Now Is the Time to Join

drymedic-restoration-franchise-opportunity

From Startups to Franchises: How a Serial Entrepreneur Masters Scalable Growth

carlos-hesano-serial-entrepreneur-dry-medic-franchise-growth

Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press franchise owners Jeff & Diana Merritt, Salisbury, MD.

Minuteman Press Franchise Review: 15 Years for Jeff & Diana Merritt

minuteman-press-franchise-review-15-years-for-jeff-diana-merritt

Dog Training Elite

photo of black and white dog, wearing a Santa hat, sitting in a wicker basket with Christmas decor

Expert Training Tips for a Well-Behaved Dog This Christmas Season

holiday-dog-training-tips

USA Ninja Challenge

USA Ninja Challenge Ends 2025 With 20 Units Awarded, Expanded Leadership Team and a Strong Foundation for a Landmark 2026

usa-ninja-challenge-ends-2025-with-20-units-awarded-expanded-leadership-team-and-a-strong-foundation-for-a-landmark-2026

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

California Pizza Kitchen’s Sale Is the Latest in the Era of PE-Backed Turnarounds in Franchising

california-pizza-kitchens-sale-is-the-latest-in-the-era-of-pe-backed-turnarounds-in-franchising

Buying a fitness franchise, people exercising

Boutique vs. Big Box Gym Franchises: Which Offers Best ROI in the $7 Billion Fitness Market?

buy-fitness-franchise-boutique-big-box-comparison

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

How AI Is Transforming Restaurant Operations and Franchises

ai-impact-restaurants-franchises-human-centric-technology

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

AI-related job cuts, October U.S. job cuts, American job cut record

AI-Fueled Layoffs Reshape the U.S. Job Market — And Highlight Franchising’s Resilience

The Great Franchisee: Kristen Maines, Sylvan Learning, New York

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS